Tobacco and the lobbyists

Tough new tobacco laws proposed for Europe have triggered a lobbying war and allegations of corruption that have rocked the European Commission, while in Britain the government is accused of caving in to the tobacco lobby over plain cigarette packaging. Jane Deith investigates.

For copyright reasons there will be no podcast or transcript of this program. You can listen to the original BBC File on Four documentary by clicking the link below.

It is now law in Australia for tobacco to be sold in plain packaging and the UK was to follow suit. But the British government changed its mind and critics argue the tobacco lobby has the government’s ear.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has been asked repeatedly if he’s talked about plain cigarette packaging with Lynton Crosby, his Australian strategist whose lobbying firm has worked for the big tobacco company, Philip Morris. Mr Cameron has responded by saying he has not ‘been lobbied’ by Lynton Crosby and the government was seeking further evidence that plain packaging works.

While plain packaging has been put on hold in Britain, the European Commission is trying to toughen its Tobacco Products Directive, to include bans on menthol and other flavoured cigarettes that attract young smokers, and to put bigger health warnings on packets.

The tobacco companies and anti-tobacco groups have been furiously lobbying MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) and accusing each other of using questionable tactics.

One tobacco company is at the centre of allegations of corruption that have rocked the European Commission.

In this program, made for the BBC’s File on 4 and re-broadcast on Background Briefing,Jane Deithinvestigates the activities of tobacco lobbyists in Europe and the UK.